CLEVELAND, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Socks knocks over the national tree at the annual White House tree-lighting ceremony. Meanwhile, the "North Pole Tattler" is running a shocking exclusive about the boy who likes getting socks and underwear for Christmas, and Ross Perot is hauling out his charts to analyze the "Twelve Days of Christmas."
This zany cast of characters inhabits a collection of Christmas cards from American Greetings called Just My Style(R). The cards take a satirical and sometimes slightly irreverent look at holiday legends like Santa and his reindeer, and poke fun at lifestyle trends like macho action movies and credit-crazed Christmas shoppers.
According to Kathy Bernetich, executive director of editorial studios and alternative cards, the cartoon-like graphics and cutting edge humor of the cards appeals to young people, men and baby-boomers, consumers who generally do not purchase most greeting cards.
"A big part of the cards' popularity stems from their timeliness," Bernetich said. "An accelerated production cycle allows our creative team to capture topical issues, emerging trends and people in the news. It's a winning formula for people who love cutting-edge humor. In the greeting card industry, we call these alternative humor cards, because they represent an alternative to more traditional versing and subject matter."
Bernetich admits the cards are not for everyone. "Religious and traditional Christmas cards will never go out of style," she said. "In fact, our number one best-selling Christmas card for the past 10 years is a religious design showing a child kneeling in prayer. But alternative humor is the fastest growing category. This Christmas, American Greetings has expanded its selection by 600 percent to meet the growing demand for funny cards."
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/NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos and product samples are available/
/CONTACT: Laurie Henrichsen, marketing/public relations coordinator, of American Greetings, 216-252-4943/
(AGREA)

CO: American Greetings Corporation ST: Ohio IN: HOU SU: PDT

LV -- NYHFNS7 -- 4820 11/16/93 06:52 EST

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